State Briefs

Published Sunday, February 24, 2002

Proceedings stopped in right-to-life case

CLEARWATER (AP) -- The Florida Supreme Court has stopped all lower court proceedings in the case of Terri Schiavo, a comatose woman whose husband and parents are battling each other over her right to live.

The high court's stay Friday affects an appellate ruling permitting a panel of doctors to examine Schiavo to determine her condition.

Terri Schiavo, 38, has been in a coma-like state since 1990, when a heart attack temporarily cut off oxygen to her brain.

Her husband and guardian, Michael Schiavo, says her condition is hopeless and that there's no need for doctors to evaluate her.

The woman's parents, Bob and Mary Schindler, disagree. They say their daughter reacts to them during visits and her condition might improve with therapy. They have doctors who believe they can help.

Fort Myers man arrested while trying to save flag

NORTH FORT MYERS -- A man was arrested for running into his burning house to save an American flag because he ignored firefighters' warnings to stay away from the fire, officials said.

Richard Bennett was charged with obstruction of justice on Friday, the Lee County Sheriff's Office said. He was being held Saturday in the Lee County Jail on $500 bail.

Firefighters arrived at the house after getting a 911 call. Bennett was upset and getting in the way of firefighters, said North Fort Myers Fire Chief Terry Pye.

Firefighters called the sheriff's office because they could not control Bennett, a police report said.

Death of homeless man being investigated

ORLANDO -- Authorities are looking into the death of a homeless man whom police were taking to a hospital for emergency treatment, officials said.

Orlando police picked up Francisco P. Nunez-Zuleta on Thursday when they found him sleeping on the sidewalk, Orange County officials said.

Officers first attempted to bring the Cuban-born Nunez-Zuleta, 67, to the county jail. The jail turned the man away because he appeared severely intoxicated, county officials said. The jail told police that Nunez-Zuleta needed immediate medical care at Florida Hospital Orlando.

Police and hospital records show that Nunez-Zuleta arrived at the hospital two hours after his arrest. He was dead upon arrival, police said.

The cause of death will be determined by blood-alcohol test results next week.

County officials said police delayed the man's treatment by arguing with the jail's staff for its refusal to book the man. Police refused to release details of discussions with jail staff.

"I wouldn't say it's unusual," county spokesman Steve Triggs said of the officers' initial refusal to take the man to the hospital. "Officers want to drop people off and be on their way."

The county has opened an internal investigation of the incident, but officials said they thought jail workers handled it properly. Orlando police also opened criminal and internal investigations.